How The HSE changes affect First Aid Training and what employers must do 12 months on……

29th September 2014
by ABC NW

Businesses now have more flexibility in how they manage their provision of first aid in the workplace following a change in health and safety regulations.

On the 1st October 2013 the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 were amended, removing the requirement for HSE to approve first aid training and qualifications, reducing costs and the burden on industry. Basically the HSE no longer approves first-aid training and qualifications. Removing the HSE approval process will give businesses greater flexibility to choose their training providers , however the responsibility is placed on Employers to carry out the required due diligence to ensure training providers are meeting the standards the HSE still require.

“Employers still have a legal duty to make arrangements to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.”

HSE will continue to set the standards for training. While the changes give employers flexibility, the one day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and three day First Aid at Work (FAW) courses remain the building blocks for first aid training. Essentially the changes affected how first Aid Training providers deliver their training to the standard.

Business as usual… here at ABC

You can rest assured that here at ABC your First Aid training currently exceeds the standards laid down and we are fully compliant as a training provider to meet the demands required by the HSE and we are an approved and accredited training provider with the First Aid Industry Body and other awarding organisations. We are independently audited and inspected as well as our own stringent internal auditing and verification procedures and the same high standards provided over the last decade remain in force and we continue to grow our client base .